Rules of Polo
EN

Rule 11 · HPA Blue Book 2026

Start of play

The match starts with a throw-in on the centre line after a warning bell five minutes before the advertised time.

  1. 11

    START OF PLAY. The timekeeper will sound the bell five minutes before the advertised time for the start of the match to alert the teams and officials. The umpires should check that the team captain is wearing a captain’s armband. The two teams shall line up for a throw-in (see Rule 6c) along the centre line but at least 20 yards from the boards/side-line.

    The throw-in: the teams line up facing the umpire, each on its own side, and the umpire bowls the ball in between them towards the nearer boards.
    1. At least 20 yd from the boards
    2. No player within 5 yd of the umpire
    3. Each team on its own side of an imaginary line, at least 2 ft (60 cm) apart
    4. The umpire bowls the ball in underarm, low and hard